Rainbow Swimming Pool Features 130,000 Glass Mosaic Tiles

Argentian-Spanish artist Felipe Pantone has elevated the average swimming pool into a work of art. Working at a house in Jávea, Spain, he used 130,000 mosaic tiles by ONIX to transform the rectangular basin into a pixelated rainbow design. The finished work, titled Chromadynamica Pool, is a beacon of bejeweled light next to modern architecture and natural surroundings.

It is easiest to see Pantone's approach when the pool is empty. He began the rainbow design in the center, using an array of yellow, red, blue, and white tesserae to create wide rays that stretch to every corner. Due to the nature of square tiles, these beams of color look pixelated. However, when water is added, the liquid interacts with the tiles to create a mesmerizing optical illusion. As a result, the rainbow fixed to the bottom of the pool appears to shift and move with the light.

Pantone began this installation by devising the design on the computer. From there, he carefully chose the limited color palette that would best interact with water and sunlight. "Color only happens because of light, and light is the only reason why life happens," Pantone says. "Light and color are the very essence of visual art. Thanks to television, computers, and modern lighting, our perception of light and color has changed completely."

You can see more of Pantone's fantastic work on his website.